Strangelove wrote:
Dave, the Canadiens are one of the richest teams in the NHL.

They owe it to their fans at this point to get rid of the entire $7.35mil cap-hit.

dbr wrote:
I don't think you see fans getting "fair treatment" from many NHL teams - especially not losing teams - if you think that fans have a right to expect this and that, anyway. Hell just look at the Maple Leafs, how many times in their eight seasons and counting playoff drought have they raised ticket prices?

Strangelove wrote:
Dave, you are saying they are interested in appearing "player friendly" but not interested in appearing "fan friendly".

dbr wrote:
Well it's not that simple. I'm saying "fan friendliness" isn't going to be the be-all, it would be crazy to suggest they are not interested at all in appealing to their paying customers.

I'm glad you understand it would be crazy to suggest teams don't care about their fans Dave.

You had me worried with all your talk of fans not getting "fair treatment" from many NHL teams (above).

Remember, that was your response to me suggesting the Canadiens owe it to their fans to send Gomez down.

So then clearly you meant it would be TOO "fan friendly" for Les Habs to send Gomez down.

Yet buying Gomez out would be Juoleviuuuuuust fan-friendly enough!

I disagree Dave.

Strangelove wrote:
Why would they care about what the players think of them?

dbr wrote:
Ask the Oilers, they don't seem too worried about sending a big fuck you to the players clearly on the outs with the organization. You think another Sheldon Souray signs there any time soon?

It would be crazy to suggest the Canadiens don’t care about what players think of them Dave.

Long story short, assistant coach Mike Haviland has been relieved of his duties. Somewhat longer..

Didn't get a lot of face-time with the Chicago Blackhawks this season and I'm not around the team every day like a Chris Kuc, an Adam Jahns or a Tracey Myers. But there were plenty of rumours of behind-the-scenes strife, especially when former Scotty Bowman assistant Barry Smith appeared on-ice to help with the ailing power play.

General manager Stan Bowman agreed to address it two months ago and disagreed with the idea of a rift, pointing out that Smith - the team's director of player development - worked with guys all the time. He added it didn't hurt to "have an extra set of eyes" with a power play that went 0-for-40 in one stretch.

The rumours never went away. Not being there makes it very difficult to recognize what really is going on. Tuesday night, we finally received a window into the situation.

As Joel Quenneville emphatically stated his desire to stay with the Blackhawks, assistant coach Mike Haviland was fired. This came two days after we blathered that Quenneville's good friend, new Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin, may ask for permission to talk to him about the Montreal opening.

"I had an assessment that there is some dysfunction to our coaching staff and we need a change," Quenneville said on a conference call, adding that Stan Bowman agreed. "It was not an easy decision. It was tough on Mike. I'm respectful for the job that he did. It's not the blame game here."

He later added, "I take ownership for what happened this year."

The word "dysfunction" is an eyebrow-raiser, because you so rarely hear coaches use it in relation to their staff. But, it is the exact word that's been used from the outside to describe what's been going on in Chicago.

This could be a big turning point for EDM if they get a coach who can actually teach them a system. Could be a turning point for Tambellini too. I dont know how they can say no to Yakupov, but man they need defense. Murray might be that safe (Josh Holden) pick.

At first I felt bad for Tambellini, I thought he had earned a shot at running a franchise, and even thought he should have had the job instead of Gillis

I still don't know how much Tamby is to blame, and how much Kevin Lowe is still pulling the strings in Edmonton, but my god that is a terribly run franchise from top to bottom. I keep watching for parallels with the Penguins, but I just don't get it. Yes, loading up on high picks is an enticing way to turn a franchise around, but Pittsburgh needed to get Malkin and Crosby to pull it off. Chicago's Keith and Seabrook had been with the franchise 6-7 years by the time they won the Cup.

And now, another search for another head coach. Good luck with that. Though I wouldn't be surprised to see them go for one of the veteran coaches out there - Crawford, Terry Murray, Jacques Martin, etc.

ESQ wrote: I keep watching for parallels with the Penguins, but I just don't get it. Yes, loading up on high picks is an enticing way to turn a franchise around, but Pittsburgh needed to get Malkin and Crosby to pull it off. Chicago's Keith and Seabrook had been with the franchise 6-7 years by the time they won the Cup.

Time will tell with Hall and RNH. I think Eberle could (and is currently) the best one of the three. Jason Spezza was drafted 2nd overall, he's bigger than RNH and I think RNH will be lucky to have the career Spezza has had. Either way, I don't think he's a HHoF type player. Taylor Hall has already suffered a major shoulder injury, a concussion, and a couple minor ankle and face injuries. And we think Ryan Kesler's style of play will limit his career??

Obviously the Oilers could keep drafting these budding stars and they should see some success down the road. Ultimately, I think their best bet would be to pull an LA Kings. Identify their core players, and seriously consider trading one or two of your high prospects/picks for established veterans. It goes without saying that some of these kids won't pan out, and your window gets smaller as you (needlessly IMO) burn ELC years. Hall and Eberle are RFA after next season...

Consider trading a guy like Hall for Erik Karlsson. Consider trading the first overall draft choice for Jordan Staal or package it for Shea Weber and hope he'll play for you. Consider moving Parjaavi. Consider trading Eberle for Cory Schneider . The point is you can gain all these high picks and prospects, but adding guys like Hordichuck and Eager doesn't add jack shit. I think their chances of adding quality free agents for below (or even at) market prices is slim given their market and history. They need to acquire current contracts and prove the team can be competitive before people will take their franchise seriously. Right now, they seem to me like the New York Islanders (with top-10 picks like Tavares, Nidereitter, Strome, Okposo, Bailey etc)... except the Islanders have a better location and travel schedule.

One thing that the playoffs this season have shown is that the system is stronger than talent. This was true with the Bruins last year. The skilled teams of the league, and Vancouver is one, need to tighten up their system play and find that extra motivation to battle teams you know are inferior (in skill) to you. This team had that motivation in 2011. This year they looked to coast on talent alone. I imagine Gillis is banking on the Luongo trade to shake-up the teams make-up. Ultimately, the country club atmosphere of this club has to change. They need to be harder working team. If their work ethic matched their talent they'll win some championships.

ESQ wrote:I still don't know how much Tamby is to blame, and how much Kevin Lowe is still pulling the strings in Edmonton, but my god that is a terribly run franchise from top to bottom.

I look around at the Canadian clubs and wait for them to have their epiphany. Vancouver had their's when Nonnis was let go. Make no mistake, AV had to win his job with GMMG and he did so in their discussions. Montreal has just had theirs with the house cleaning at the top, realizing that there had been several downright embarrassing decisions made. The Jets did their shakeup with the move, Ottawa may finally be on the right track

Edmonton and Calgary still don't have a clue what kind of stagnant cesspool they are treading water in.

ESQ wrote:I still don't know how much Tamby is to blame, and how much Kevin Lowe is still pulling the strings in Edmonton, but my god that is a terribly run franchise from top to bottom.

I look around at the Canadian clubs and wait for them to have their epiphany. Vancouver had their's when Nonnis was let go. Make no mistake, AV had to win his job with GMMG and he did so in their discussions. Montreal has just had theirs with the house cleaning at the top, realizing that there had been several downright embarrassing decisions made. The Jets did their shakeup with the move, Ottawa may finally be on the right track

Edmonton and Calgary still don't have a clue what kind of stagnant cesspool they are treading water in.

Add Toronto to that mix. I look at the team Burke has built and I see no 1st line C,no.1 D, or a starting goalie. Carolina, Tampa, Buffalo and Montreal have better chances of making the playoffs next season unless Burke makes big moves (ie landing Lou).

ESQ wrote:I still don't know how much Tamby is to blame, and how much Kevin Lowe is still pulling the strings in Edmonton, but my god that is a terribly run franchise from top to bottom.

I look around at the Canadian clubs and wait for them to have their epiphany. Vancouver had their's when Nonnis was let go. Make no mistake, AV had to win his job with GMMG and he did so in their discussions. Montreal has just had theirs with the house cleaning at the top, realizing that there had been several downright embarrassing decisions made. The Jets did their shakeup with the move, Ottawa may finally be on the right track

Edmonton and Calgary still don't have a clue what kind of stagnant cesspool they are treading water in.

Add Toronto to that mix. I look at the team Burke has built and I see no 1st line C,no.1 D, or a starting goalie. Carolina, Tampa, Buffalo and Montreal have better chances of making the playoffs next season unless Burke makes big moves (ie landing Lou).

Just a thought:

If the Canucks gave Lou AND Kesler to Toronto (and a promising defenseman like Chris Tanev), do you think that could land us the following:

Again - I'm thinking out loud. I have absolutely no clue if something like that would be fair.

I guess I'm just seeing it from the perspective that Burke might be looking to make a splash, while the Canucks can play the whole "depth/kids is key" angle.

I would hope/ expect Lou and Kes and Tanev to bring a whole lot more than that. None of those guys you mention is a proven NHLer. And I'm sure Lou and Kes would be ecstatic to be traded to the same team. They are best of buddies after all

Any one think that Booth may have done MG a huge favour by greasing ( with bear fat ) his own skids and a ticket out of town. Now endorsed by the champion for the National Rifle Association ( and a threat to the President of the USA ) Your favourite and mine none other than Mr Ted Nugent. Sounds like he and Tim Thomas may belong top the same club

Fred wrote:Any one think that Booth may have done MG a huge favour by greasing ( with bear fat ) his own skids and a ticket out of town. Now endorsed by the champion for the National Rifle Association ( and a threat to the President of the USA ) Your favourite and mine none other than Mr Ted Nugent. Sounds like he and Tim Thomas may belong top the same club

No I don't and I don't see what the fuss is about. The guy hunts, so what.